diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
index 8b14536ab5..4412291dff 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
@@ -656,14 +656,25 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
             # FIXME: comparison against string above will cause this to be executed
             # every time
             try:
-                if 'lchmod' in dir(os):
+                if hasattr(os, 'lchmod'):
                     os.lchmod(path, mode)
                 else:
-                    os.chmod(path, mode)
+                    if not os.path.islink(path):
+                        os.chmod(path, mode)
+                    else:
+                        # Attempt to set the perms of the symlink but be
+                        # careful not to change the perms of the underlying
+                        # file while trying
+                        underlying_stat = os.stat(path)
+                        os.chmod(path, mode)
+                        new_underlying_stat = os.stat(path)
+                        if underlying_stat.st_mode != new_underlying_stat.st_mode:
+                            os.chmod(path, stat.S_IMODE(underlying_stat.st_mode))
+                        q_stat = os.stat(path)
             except OSError, e:
                 if os.path.islink(path) and e.errno == errno.EPERM:  # Can't set mode on symbolic links
                     pass
-                elif e.errno == errno.ENOENT: # Can't set mode on broken symbolic links
+                elif e.errno in (errno.ENOENT, errno.ELOOP): # Can't set mode on broken symbolic links
                     pass
                 else:
                     raise e